Finding a legitimate life experience degree may be a difficult process as there are many counterfeit companies advertising online as well. With the Internet, illegitimate educational institutions, commonly referred to as "degree mills," have overshadowed actual options for earning credit for one's knowledge in life. It is often hard to differentiate between the two, so look for common red flags when seeking these types of programs online.

If people do have extensive work and living experience, there are many schools that now offer legitimate life experience degrees that give college credit for one's work and learning. While these achievements are earned solely on the basis of what someone has already accomplished and may be out of reach, it is possible to earn some credit legitimately when done properly. A person's experience, documented by a portfolio, can also contribute greatly toward the progress in completing a program. Generally, the process is quite extensive, as it involves submitting a portfolio of the work related to the training already received. However, people also have the potential of earning up to 25% of the overall credits someone needs for their degree.

Schools offering these programs will have an established process by which one accumulates and documents work and everyday living. In addition to offering a portfolio option for life experience, some schools also offer exams that allow you to be tested on what people already know and possibly earn credits for that knowledge. While there may be some short cuts to earning a degree, a school offering legitimate life experience degrees will limit the number of hours one may earn from living and work knowledge.

If people are looking for a way to gain recognition for their extensive adventures and life learning, they should learn to spot the differences between what is real and what is not when it comes to legitimate life experience degrees. There are several red flags that will help expose a degree mill: the tuition is charged per degree instead of by credit, course or semester; there are few unspecified degree requirements, or none at all; the school is relatively new, or has changed names; and there are no designated professors or street mailing address. A true academic institution will be accredited by a viable agency. While even some illegitimate schools will cite an accreditation, make sure the accreditation is recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education.

Be sure to inquire carefully about the process of converting life and work into college credit. Also, inquire carefully about their legitimate life experience degree programs that limit on the number of credits they will accept by this method. Remember, if it's too good to be true, the legitimate life experience degree probably is. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).